Electrical float-signaling apparatus



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1..

J. R. DE MIER. ELECTRICAL FLOAT SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 403,180. Patented May 14, 1889 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. R.DE MIER. ELECTRICAL FLOAT SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 403,180. Patented May 14, 1889.

fizz? y 7 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. R. DE MIER. ELECTRICAL FLOAT SIGNALING APPARATUS. No. 403,180.Patented May 14, 1889.

K rtrens. Phebo-Lmnphnr. WW, 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOIIF R. DE MIER, OF LAS CRUCES, TERRITORY OF NIDV MEXICO.

ELECTRICAL FLOAT-SIG NALI N G APPARATU S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,180, dated May 14,1889.

Application filed August 21, 1888. Serial No. 283,302. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. DE MIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Las Cruces, in the county of Donna Ana and Territory of NewMexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricalFloat-Signaling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention consists in the combination of an electrical signalingapparatus, an indicator-float, electrical switch, a battery, andswitch-connections with a telegraph-line wire, and to this thermostatmaybe added for operating an additional electrical switch by means ofthe said battery, whereby either high water or fire, or both, may besignaled by a danger-flag at either side of the bridge, and alsosignaled over the line-wire to the adjacent telegraph-stations.

It also consists in certain other minor coinbinations, as will behereinafter described and claimed. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of thehouse containing the danger-flag and its operating mechanism, the rightside being exposed to view. Fig' 2 is a vertical section of the same,viewed from the left side. Fig. 23 is a vertical. section of the same,viewed from the front. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the upper portionof the same, showing the top open and the danger-flag unfurled andthrown out. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a clock mechanism used foroperating a bell-alarm at the stations and the danger-flag on theroadside. Fig. 6 is a top view of an electrical magnet used for startingthe clock mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail view of its starting rod andlover. Fig. 8 is a top view of said clock mechanism. Fig. 9 is a diagramof the general arrangement of the parts of my invention as applied to abridge extending over a river. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the meansfor deflecting the line-wire to the clock-work, Fig. 11 is a verticalcentral section of a float-house contain ing my float and switch. Fig.12 is a top viewoif the thermostat. Fig. 13 is an inverted plan view ofthe inner mechanism, and Fig.

1i is a vertical central section in the line mm of Fig.

The letter A in the drawings represents a line-wire of atelegraphsystem; B, a river; C, a bridge; D, a float-house; E, battery; F,flaghouse, and G thermostats.

The flaghouse F contains a clock signaling mechanism, I, an electricstarting mechanism, J, a flag-operating mechanism, K, a switch, L, forthe same, a lightning-arrester, M, and a top-lock, N. The signalingmechanism I comprises, principally, an ordinary clock-work, consistingof a main wheel, 1', moved by a spring, 1i, upon the main shaft 1, apinion, 2'", upon a shaft, 17*, which latter carries a wheel, if", andsignaling-disk i, a pinion, i upon a shaft, i carrying an escape, i, anescape-lever, i notched crank-handle 11 on the main shaft 1' a check andcontact-plate, and insulated contact-plates 1" i i, insulating-blocks 1'II 1: as will be further described. 'The flagoperating mechanism Kconsists of; a flagstaii', 7., flag 7o, furling-rod 7. flag-detent is,upright guides detent 7;, chain 75, weight k pulley 7e, and check-bar 7sThe top f of the flag-house F is hinged at f to the flag-house, and isat the opposite side locked by the top-lock to the top portion of theflag-house. This top-lock N consists of a slide-rod, n, properly hung tothe flag-house in bearing-supporting brackets a if, an inclinedoperating end plate, a and a locking-hook, n engaging with a pin, f inthe top f, as seen in Figs. Land 2. The inclined end plate, 12 stands(in its normal position) in the path of the flag-stat? 75 below, so thatwhen the flagstait rises it strikes the end plate, a and pushes it andthe hook a back, thereby releasing the pin f and the top f.

The electric starting mechanism J consists of an electric magnet, j,armature j, lever 7' check-rod with insulated head 9 and the usualbinding-screws, f, as will be further explained.

The clock-work is wound up by the crankhandle i and when wound up standsin the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A notch, 2'

in the said crank-handle stands vertically downward and holds the endportion of the flag-stait detent 7. whereby the flag-staff 1s held inits lowered position. In thisposition the crank-handle i is in contactwith the contact-plate 1'. This contact-plate is insulated at 2' fromthe contact-frame I, and is, by means of the insulated conducting-wirea, connected with the line-wire of the telegraph, as will be seen. Fromthe frame I of the clock-Work at another conducting-wire, a, serves asconnection between the clock-frame and the aforesaid line-wire A.

Between the line-wire and clock-work the wires a a pass throughthelightning-arrester M, which will be described later on. The line-wireA is prevented from conducting its current past the wires a a by beingsevered between said two wires and held together by a tubular insulator,A, having an outer annular groove, 0?, around which the one end portionof the severed line-wire is wrapped and fastened, while the other endportion is passed through the insulation and fastened together outsideof it, as is plainly shown in Fig. 10. The currents of the line-wire arethus caused to follow the wires a a and pass through the clock-work I.The wire a is connected to the contact-plates 2' 1', and the wire a at2' to the frame of the clock-work. The contact-plate closes the circuitof the line-wire while the clock-work is and remains wound up, thecontact-plate 1' closes the said circuit when the clock-work has rundown, and the contact-plate 1' causes the signals received from therevolving signal-wheel i to be transferred to the line-wire.

When the contact-plate i is in operation, the'contact-plates 1' and ihave no electric connection'with the clock-frame I as will be seen. Thecontact-plate is so constructed that it is in contact with thecrank-handle i when the clock-work is fully wound up, and thisconnection is broken almostimmediately as the clock-work begins to move,thus breaking the circuit of the line-wire. Shortly after this thecontact-plate in co-operation with the revolving notched'sig'nal-wheel1' transfers the signal to the line-wire, and after said signal is fullymade the contact-plate 2' of the revolving shaft i and a pin, 11, of thesignal-wheel 2' abut and stop the clock-work. At the same time thecontact-plates 1' and '9 meet in contact, and thus again close thecircuit of the line-wire, which is then again ready for generaltelegraphing.

The wound-up clock-work is prevented from unwinding and signaling byhaving its escapelever'i held down by the insulated head 9' of thesliding-rod j. I This rod j is pivoted to the lever 7' which is linkedto and moved by the armaturej' of the starting mechanism J.

The battery E, a float, d, and a switch, d, in the float-house D are themeans of charging the magnet j at high water, thereby withdrawing theinsulated head j from the range of the escape-lever 11 with theabove-described result. The float-house D is firmly anchored in theriver B, and allows the water to enter'through a screen, (1 and supporta float, d therein. This float d is provided with vertical guides 61 (1which are hung in transverse bridge-pieces d of the floathouse, andallow easy vertical movementof the float upon the rising or fallingwater. Above the guide-rod d the switch d is provided, and it is at suchheight that said guide-rod comes in contact with it at high water. Theswitch (1 consists of two angular switch spring-plates, d 01 fastened tothe float-house so that their free ends stand apart to prevent closingof the circuit of the battery E, with which they are connected by wires6 c, said closing of the circuit being only effected by the rising ofthe water and float. wire 6 passes into the flag-house to the binding-screw j, and from the binding-screw j wire e passes into theflag-house from the floathouse, thereby connecting with the switchspring-plate 61 while the wire 6 from the other pole of the batteryEconnects with the switch spring-plate d of the float house D, therebyestablishing the circuit between the battery E and magnet j. The wires 66 may be extended along a bridge, C, as seen in Fig. 9, and there beconnected by branch wires (2 a with thermostats G, for the purpose ofgiving afire-alarm. The thermostats consist of a housing, g, closed by aremovable bottom, g, and containing two switch-plates, 9 of which theplate g is rigid, while 9 is elastic, having a tension toward the plateg from which it is held apart by a screw, 9 The screw 9 is provided witha head, 9

From the battery the which rests against the outer surface of thehousing and is united with the screw-body by means of solder, or analloy, 9 of verylow melting-point. This head 9 is parted from the screw9* by the melting .of the solder,

whereupon the plate g comes in contactwith the plate g thereby closingthe circuit between the battery and magnet j, and causing theabove-described alarm. The wires a a and e e are provided with alightning-arrester, M, which consists of a flat conductingplate, m,interposed bet-ween each of the said four wires, and a large transverseconducting plate, on, fastened at a short distance from the plates m,and a ground-wire, m so that lightning striking the wires and followingthem down to the conducting-plates'm will be attracted by the largeconducting-surface m and leap over the small intervening space to it,and finally follow the ground-wire m and pass into the earth. In orderto break the circuit which operates the magnetj after the clock-work isset in motion, a switch, L, is provided, which is interposed between thewire 6. This switch consists of a contact-lever, Z, pivoted at Z to aconducting-plate, Z connected with one of the severed ends of the wiree, and a fixed conducting-plate, Z connected with the other severed endof the said wire. The short arm of the lever Z is in contact with theplate Z when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and thecircuit of the magnet j is then closed. Thelong arm IIO of the lever Zis in range with the weight 13 which latter, when descending, strikessaid long arm, moves the lever Z into the position shown in dottedlines, whereby the circuit of the magnet j is broken and the magnet andbattery are set at rest.

lVhen the clock-work is started, the crankhandlej revolves, and thenotch f", changing its position toward the flag-stait detent k, loosesits hold on the same, and it becomes free. The weight 75 now descendsand by means of the chain and pulley 7t pulls up the flag-staff 7a,which in its ascent strikes the inclined plate n, pushes it back and unlocks the roof f, which is almost immediately thrown back by theflag-staff into the position shown in Fig. 4. After this the flag-staffis pulled by the chain 7t over the upper end of the inner guide, towardthe roller 7t, and gradually moves on a slant outward until the detent76G strikes the bar 70 and stops the movement of the flag-staff. Bycutting a notch, 7.1 in the tlagsta'tl, which comes in line with the topportion of the flag-house, the flag-staff is caused to assume an almosthorizontal position. Into that position the flagstait' is moved veryquickly and forcibly, and when the notched portion k strikes the top ofthe flag-house the metal furling-rod k of the flag is caused by itsweight and mo mentum to leave its detent 7t" and unfurl th-e danger-flag70 into view as a warning not to cross the bridge. The parts are allagain replaced into their normal position by an at tendant, who isprotected against electrical shocks when winding up the clock-work by aninsulating rubber cover, 1", over the handle of the crank-lever '11.

The alarm-signals sent over the line-wires, as described, will in thetelegraph-offices connected thereby either sound such signals on agongin the ordinary way, or by the signalkey of the telegraph-instrument,and a train passing such station will be stopped by the usualdanger-signals displayed at any one of the stations; but if the alarmshould be given while the train is between said station and the bridgethe danger-flag near the bridge, having been thrown out in the mannerdescribed, will be displayed to view and the engineer of the trainthereby warned in time to stop the train and avoid disaster.

In case of a fire at the bridge, the signals at the stations and thebridge from the thermostats, through the mechanism in the flag-house,will be the same as that produced by action of high water upon thefloat.

lVhat I claim is 1. In an alarnrsignal apparatus, the combination of aflag mechanism, K, comprising a flag-staff, chain, pulley, weight,fl.ag-furling rod, flag-detent, and a flag-staff detent, an electricsignaling mechanism, I, comprising a main driving-wheel, notchedcranlehandle,

pinion-wheels, signal-disk i escapcwheel i escape-leveri check andcontact plate 2' insulated contact-plates i 5 i and insulating-blocks i6 clock-starting mechanism J comprising electric magnet j, armature j,lever j check-rod j having insulated head j", battery E, float 61*,electric switch (Z, and

connecting-wires a a, c c, and telegraph-line wire, substantially as andfor the purpose de scribed.

2. The combination, with the flag-staff. k and float d, of theclock-work I, having escape-lever i and magnet j, having a startingrod jand a battery, E, and a float-switch, (I, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. The combination of the clock-work I, having crank-lever 2 with notchi and flagstaff 71', having detent 7t, chain 70 pulley 7t, and weight715 substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

at. In the described flag mechanism K, the combination of the chain 75,pulley 73, weight k flag-staff 7t, guides k cross-bar 70 flag 7t,unfurling-rod 78, and flag-detent 70*, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In the described flag mechanism K, the combination of the flag-staffk, the lockinghook a, sliding rod '71, inclined plate or, and swingingtop f, having locking-pin f sub" stantially as and for the purposedescribed.

6. The combination of the switch L, battery E, magnet j, flag-staff 7s,detent a, notchleverz' of clock-work I, chain 7: pulley k, andflag-statf-operating weight k substan tially as and for the purpose setforth.

'7; The combination of the flag mechanism K, comprising a flag staff,chain, pulley, weight, flag-furling rod, flag-detent, flag-staff detent,electric signaling apparatus I, comprising main driving-wheel, notchedcrank-handle, pinioirwheels, signal-disk i, escape-wheel 2 escape-leveri check and contact plate i insulated contact plates t t andinsulating-blocks '6 W a, clock-starting mechanism J, comprisingelectric magnet j, armature j, lever j check-rodf, having insulated headj", battery E, float d electrical switch (I, thermostat G,telegraph-line wire A, and connecting-wires a a e c c e, substantiallyas described.

8. The withindescribed signaling apparatus, comprising float,thermostat, switches thereof, starting mechanism J, battery andcircuit-wires thereof, signaling mechanism I, and flag mechanism K,whereby signals at stations and ata bridge can be given both by actionof high water and fire, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN R. DE MIER.

Vitnesses:

JAMES E. GASTON, GEO. H. CAMPBELL.

